Jul 21, 2016 | By Benedict

DePuy Synthes, a Johnson & Johnson company specializing in medical devices, has announced an agreement with 3D printing giant Materialise to introduce a new range of TruMatch titanium 3D printed implants for facial and skull disorders. The patient-specific implants will be modeled on CT scans.

One of the most exciting aspects of medical 3D printing is seeing how established businesses and organizations adapt to the emerging technological possibilities afforded by additive manufacturing. As numerous 3D printing startups are formed, older businesses must think quickly to see if and how they can incorporate additive manufacturing into their own workflow to create better, more user-friendly products. With over 100 years in the medical device business, DePuy Synthes, now part of the Johnson & Johnson family, is one such company to actively and successfully embrace the world of 3D printing, having recently revisited its partnership with 3D printing giant Materialise to develop a range of 3D printed titanium implants for facial and skull disorders.

After working with Materialise on various other medical devices since 2010, DePuy Synthes returned to the Belgian 3D printing specialist to jointly develop a new product. This latest project will see the two companies offer a new range of facial and cranial medical device solutions under the established TruMatch portfolio, providing personalized titanium implants for orthognathic surgery and other craniofacial indications. The comprehensive solution will consist of more than the implants themselves, providing medical specialists with a virtual surgical planning platform, intraoperative patient specific tools, and personalized implants.

The patient-specific 3D printed implants will be modeled on data acquired through CT scans of a patient’s skull, with the implants used to fill gaps in the cranial and craniofacial skeleton. Using CT scan data, surgeons will be able to design 3D printed titanium implants tailored to the exact shape and size requirements determined by the patient’s condition. The implants can be either a single piece or multiple pieces joined by standard cranial and craniofacial fixation systems, and can be made from either pure titanium or PEEK Optima-LT (polyetheretherketone).

The new 3D printed TruMatch implant solution will come with DePuy Synthes’ PROPLAN CMF software, a virtual surgical planning environment which enables surgeons to make critical clinical decisions before entering the operating room. After practicing the surgery to perfection, surgeons can then seamlessly transfer their virtual experience to the operating room via operation-specific osteotomy guides and anatomical models.

“The TruMatch CMF Solutions portfolio includes several advanced technologies for facial reconstruction, orthognathic surgery, distraction, and cranial reconstruction,” said Elmar Zurbriggen, Vice President, DePuy Synthes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The agreement with Materialise will enable us to continue to bring more personalized solutions to the marketplace furthering our ability to improve patient care.”

Founded in 1895 in Warsaw, Indiana, DePuy Manufacturing has a long and distinguished history in medical device manufacturing, having started off as a designer and manufacturer of fiber splints intended to replace wooden ones. In 1998, the company was acquired by Johnson & Johnson, and in 2012 was merged with Synthes to form the DePuy Synthes companies of Johnson & Johnson. With Johnson & Johnson’s large network of partner companies, DePuy Synthes has been able to embrace new manufacturing methods, such as the 3D printing processes pioneered by Materialise, and now looks set to continue developing advanced 3D printed medical solutions.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printer Company

 

 

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